Manila, Oct. 1 -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday pledged to expand the benefits provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to allocate an additional PHP60 billion to the agency under the proposed 2026 national budget.

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who also serves as chairman of the PhilHealth Board, presented the agency's plans to strengthen healthcare coverage.

Herbosa said benefits will be increased for illnesses that remain among the leading causes of death among Filipinos, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and canc...